There were 69,403,000 returns filed in the season to date, compared to 74,456,000. The deficit was down from an 8.3-percent gap for the prior week's report.

The only number ahead of 2016 remains average refund at $2,973, a 1 percent increase over $2,945 in last year's season and the average refund directly deposited which rose .9 percent to $3,105 from $3,105.

Efiled returns hit 64,953,000 for the season ending March 10, down 6.6 percent from 69,527,000. The total for the season through March 3 was off by 8.3 percent

There were 34,093,000 self-prepared efiles, down 4.7 percent from 37,148,000. Professionals submitted 37,148,000 efiles, down 8.2 percent from 34,093,000 in 2016. That compares to down 6.3 percent and minus 10.1 percent respectively for the March 3 report.